Henry barcroft



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. BARGROPT.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELL'ING VESSELS. No. 476,122. Patented May 31, 1892..

(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. BAROROFT. APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

No. 476,122. Patented May 31,1892.

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i NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BARCROFT, OF NEWRY, IRELAND.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,122, dated May 31,1892.

Application filed October 21, 1891. 8crial No. 409,388. (lilo model.)Patented in England April 20, 1891, No. 6,809; in France September 25,1891, No 216,351, and in Belgium October 14, 1891.110. 96,791-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, HENRY BAROROFT, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at The Glen, Newry, in the county of Armagh, Ireland,have invented new and useful Apparatus for Propelling and Steering Boatsand other Navigable Vessels, (for which I have obtained patents in GreatBritain, dated April 20, 1891, No. 6,809; in France, dated September 25,1891, No. 216,351, and in Belgium, dated October 14, 1891, No. 96,791,)of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improved arrangement of the twooppositelyrevolving sets of propeller-blades carried by a platformoverhanging the stern of the vessel, described in the specifications tomy previeuspatents, No. 431,428, dated July 1, 1890,

and No. 441,049, dated November 18, 1890, whereby the axis on which thepropellerblades revolve is made adjustable vertically, so as to bebrought close to the surface of the water, and thus the comparativelygreat length of the propeller-arms and the necessity for making themtelescopic, as described in the said specifications, is obviated, and asa consequence the apparatus is rendered more compact, which is ofimportance in canals and other narrow water-ways. For this purpose thetwo sets of propeller-blades are mounted in a vertically-sliding framecarried by a platform that overhangs the stern of the boat, so that byraising or lowering the frame the vertical position of thepropeller-blades can be adjusted accurately to the draft of the vessel,so as to insure their proper immersion. At the same time the platformcarrying the frame is by preference mounted on a pivot on the deck orother support on the vessel, so that on turning it, together with theframe and propeller-blades, into a more or less angular positionrelatively to the center line of the vessel the propellers in acting atsuch angle will effect the steering of the vessel.

I will proceed to describe the construction of the said apparatus withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows alongitudinal section of one arrangement applicable more particularly tobarges or canal-boats. Fig. 2 shows a part sectional plan, and Fig. 3shows an end view. Figs. 4 and 5 show plan and elevation of a modifiedconstruction.

A and A are two sets of propeller-blades, the arms B B of which aremounted in bosses C O, revolving loosely upon the overhanging ends of anaxis D, which is fixed upon the bottom transverse piece E of thevertical frame E, supported by the overhanging bearers K. The bosses C Chave bevel-toothed rings or wheels F F, which may either be formedthereon or by preference fixed thereto by screw-bolts, as shown, withwhich wheels gears a bevel-wheel G, fixed on a vertical shaft G, carriedby the frame E. This shaft is of square or polygonal or round andgrooved section and passes through a bevelwheel H, which is supported bya bracket 1, embracing a neck thereon, the shaft being free to slidethrough the wheel, but is carried round thereby on the Wheel, beingrotated by means of the bevel-wheel J on the shaft L, carried by theplatform M, on which is mounted a suitable motor-engine N for drivingthe shaft L. Thus on rotary motion being imparted to the vertical shaftG the bevel-Wheel G will effect the rotation in 0011- trary directionsof the bosses O C and propeller-blades A A, which, being suitablyinclined, will effect the propulsion of the boat either forward orastern, according to the direction in which they are rotated.

By preference I construct the shaft D as an ordinary carriage-axle andthe bosses C O of the propeller-blades as ordinary Wheelnaves,constructed with inclosed spaces for lubricant in the well-known manner,by which arrangement the lubricant will be prevented from becomingwashed away by the water and the bosses be kept well lubricated foralength of time. If necessary, a bearing might be provided to the outerends of the shaft D, supportedby transversebearers from the frame E. Theplatform is mounted on a pivot O, on which it can be turned either by ahand-tiller P or by suitable steering-gear, so as to cause the frame Eand propeller-blades to assume any angular position relatively to thecenter line of the vessel, and thus to effect the steering thereof.

. to be removed.

The frame E is in this construction shown formed of two strong woodenbeams framed together at top and bottom by cast-iron transverse pieces EE The lower one carries the propeller-axis, as described, and alsosupports by means of the bearer E the lower end of the vertical shaft G,the upper end of which runs in a bearing in the transverse piece E Theframe E is held adjustably between the bearers K by being clampedtightly against a strong transverse metal plate Q, fixed to the bearersby means of clamping-plates Q and bolts Q so that on loosening the boltsthe vertical frame E is free to he slid up or down between the bearersfor adjusting the position of the propeller-blades relatively to the,vention and the best means I know of carry- 5ing the same intopractical effect, I cla1mwater-level. The adjustment of the frame to theexact position required for the propellers can be conveniently effectedby temporarily combination of two oppositely-revolvlng sets 50fpropeller-blades having their horizontal placing a winch upon thebearers K K and on suspending the frame by its eye E from a rope orchain or screw raising or lowering the frame until the propellers are inthe requisite position relatively to the water-level, whereupon theframe is clamped tightly, as above described. Any other convenientarrangement may be employed for effecting the raising and lowering ofthe frame. For conveniently efiecting the clamping and loosening'of theframe a hinged platform It may be provided at the end of the bearers K,which is let down into the dotted position for the operator to standupon and which is at other times secured in the raised position bysuitable catches.

. As the bevel-wheel H is always held in the same position by thebracket I, no matter what the position of the frame E with thepropeller-blades may be, it will be seen that the latter will always becorrectly driven by the motor-engine N. The bearers K might be fixed onthe deck instead of being mounted on a turn-table, as described. In thatcase the steering of the vessel would be effected by anordinary rudderor large oar in the case of a barge; also, instead of driving thepropellers by an engine mounted on the turn-table, this may be effectedby an engine situated at any other part of the vessel and connected bysuitable transmission shafting and gearing to the shaft L.

WVhen used for canal navigation, the propellers may be convenientlydriven by an electromotor receiving its current from a conductorextending along the bank of the canal by means of a sliding contacthauled along by the barge. Such electromotor may either be fixed on theplatform M or it may be mounted on the upper end of the sliding frameand the shaft of the rotating armature be suitably connected throughspeed-reducing gear to the propeller-shaft G. [this arrangementmightalso be employed when usin g rotary or other engines worked by steam orother fluid pressure.

Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, a plan and front elevation of amodified construction of the frame E E and raising and lowering gear. Inthis arrangement the frame E E and the bearers K are made of metal. Thegeneral construction is otherwise similar to the firstdescribedarrangement, the parts belng indicated by the same letters of reference.The frame slides between angle-iron guides S S, fixed on the bearers K,and the raising and lowering are effected by pinions T T on a shaft U,carrying a worm-wheel V, gearing with a worm W on a shaft X, carried bythe bearer and rotated by a hand-wheel X, the pinions T being in gearwith racks Y, fixed on the frame E. This may also be held in theposition to which it is adjusted by suitable catches.

Having thus described the nature of my in- 1. In an apparatus forpropelling boats, the

axes of rotation situated at any desired level 1 and carried by a freehanging vertically-slidj ing frame, a horizontal support overhanging thestern of the boat and adapted to support ?the vertical hanging frame invariously-ad- 1 justed positions, a vertical shaft carried by the,vertically-hanging .frame and having at its 3 lower end a bevel-wheelgearingwith diametrirally-opposite bevel-wheels attached to the bossesof the two sets of propeller-blades, so as to rotate these in contrarydirections on their fixed axes, and a bevel-wheel carried by thehorizontal support, through the boss of which bevel-wheel. passes thevertical shaft connected thereto by tongue and grooveor equivalentdevice so that the bevel-wheel will impart its rotation to the shaftwhile this is free to slide through the wheel, this being suitablygeared to a motor-engine, substantially as described. v

2. In an apparatus for propelling boats, the combination of two sets ofpropeller-blades A, adj ustablycarriedinbosses O, mountedloosely on anaxis D, fixed on the lower end of a vertical frame E, adjustable inoverhanging supports K, said bosses having bevel-wheels F, geared toopposite sides of a bevel-wheel Gon a vertical shaft G, carried by theframe E and connected by gearing H J to the shaft L of a motor-enginemounted on a revoluble platform carrying the supports K of the verticalframe, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for propelling boats, the combination of two sets ofpropeller-blades A, adj ustably carried in bosses 0, formed as the navesor hubs of ordinary road-wheels and running on a fixed axis D, formed asan ordinary carriage-axle and carried by a vertireally-sliding frmne,the said bosses having bevel-Wheels fixed or formed thereon, by

which they receive rotary motion in contrary directions froinabevel-Wheel on L vertical shaft carried by the said vertically-slidin gframe and receiving rotary motion from a suitable motor.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of 10 two subscribing Witnesses, this 7th day of October, A. D.1891.

HENRY BAROROFT.

\Vitnesses:

JOSEPH MoREDMoND, Newry, County Down, Solicitors Clem.

W. McOANN, V Newry, County Down.

